Judging Crime

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Total of 170 hours

Criminology at Undergraduate level

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is about the ways in which the criminal justice system responds to crime. It examines the principles that judges and magistrates must consider when sentencing offenders and the role of judicial discretion in the sentencing process. The subject includes an examination of some of the more recent approaches to dealing with offenders that are available in Australia, such as the restorative justice and therapeutic jurisprudential practices used in problem-solving courts and alternative dispute resolution. The effectiveness of different sentencing options is considered, with a special focus on imprisonment and parole. Finally, the subject examines the research on public perceptions of sentencing, and considers the role of the public in sentencing policy and practice. At the end of this subject students should have a clear understanding of the principles and purposes of sentencing, an appreciation of the research literature on the effectiveness of different sentencing options and approaches, and a healthy skepticism of media representations of ‘lenient’ sentencing decisions.

On completion of this subject students should have:

• an understanding of the principles and purposes of sentencing;
• an understanding of the research evidence on the effectiveness of different sentencing options and approaches;
• an appreciation of the complexities of criminal justice responses to offending behaviour;
• an ability to examine media reports of sentencing outcomes with a critical eye; and
• an ability to apply knowledge of the research evidence to contemporary criminal justice policy debate.

A 1,500 word preliminary essay (30%) due mid-semester, and a research essay of 3,500 words (70%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: This subject has a minimum Hurdle Requirement of 75% tutorial attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available online

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• have highly developed cognitive, analytic and problem-solving skills;
• have an advanced understanding of complex concepts and the ability to express them lucidly in writing and orally;
• have an ability to plan work and to use time effectively;
• have sophisticated awareness of cultural, ethnic and gender diversities and their implications.